Washington: A day-long conference of Consuls General at Pakistan Embassy DC was presided over by Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, today. Agenda of this year's conference was three fold: i) Review of improvements in consular services and facilitation to community; ii) Reach-out to Pakistani-American community for promoting Pakistan-U.S. relations; and iii) Enhancing bilateral trade and investment.

While opening the conference, Ambassador Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry underscored the importance of consular services as a priority task of our diplomatic and consular Missions. He stressed that the Embassy and the Consulates must ensure timely, efficient and welfare oriented consular services to the community. He appreciated the steps taken but urged to make every effort based on the feedback from the community to further improve the consular services.

Consuls General New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston and the Officer In-charge of consular affairs at the Embassy in DC gave presentations on the improvements brought in the consular services and community facilitation during the outgoing year as a result of the decisions taken at the CGs conference held last year.
Separate sessions of moderated discussion were also held on consular services, community outreach and trade and investment.

It was noted that the Government has given clear guidelines for implementation of service oriented vision on consular services and facilitation to the community.

It was also noted that the measure to open Consular Section on at least one Sunday of the month had been greatly appreciated. It was agreed to continue employment of a dedicated consular representative in each Mission to attend telephone queries which has immensely helped improve the standard of consular services. Implementation of digital token system provides an equal opportunity to the applicants from all walks of life. The Officer In-charge consular affairs informed that the Embassy was formally launching an interactive website with more features on consular services. He also informed that the waiting area at the Consular Section of the Embassy in DC had been expanded to provide comfortable seating for the visitors.

The Ambassador directed all Consuls General and other officers dealing with the consular and community matters to make themselves easily accessible and set standards of excellence in public service delivery.

It was agreed to further enhance our outreach to Pakistani-American community, which has always positively contributed to the development of Pakistan and in promoting friendly relations between Pakistan and the United States.

Ambassador Chaudhry impressed upon his team to effectively involve Pakistani Diaspora in strengthening commercial and trade relations between the two countries.